Street-flushing machine.



J. I. BRORBY. STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

v APPLIUATIQN FILED 11113.25, 1911. I 'LQIJQGa Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. I. BRORBY.

STREET FLUSHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JACOB BBORBY, F SHENANDOAH, IOWA.

STREET-FLUSHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Serial No. 616,805.

Application filed March 25, 1911.

- chines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus designed chiefly for cleansing paved streets by flushing them with water, which is expelled from a tank under pressure, the pres sure being created by compressing air and utilizing the pressure of the water when charging the tank.

The invention provides means for automatically closing the outlet from the water compartment of the tank after the water has been nearly expelled therefrom, thereby preventing theescape of the compressed air.

A further purpose of the invention also resides in means for automatically closing the water compartment when nearly filled with water so as to prevent forcing the water into the air compartment.

A fnrfher purpose of the invention is the provision of means'whereby the pressure of the water may be utilized to charge the air compartment with air under pressure and to locate a pressure regulator between tl e compressed air and water compartments so as to regulate the force ofthe water escaping at the outlets and to maintain such force uniform during the entire discharge of the water. j

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part 'of the specification. Figure l is a side view of the apparatus for flushing paved thoroughfares embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the tank and parts cooperating therewith.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

l.hetank is indicated at 1 and may be of any capacity and construction and is subdivided by means of a'partition 2 to provide two rompartments 3 and 4, the latter containing the water for flushing the street and I, JAcon I. Bnonnv, a.

the former containing the air under pressure to be utilized for expelling the water from the compartment 4. A pipe 5 connects with the bottom of the compartment 4 and is adapted to be utilized for filling the water compartment and fordischarging' the water therefrom. A check valve 6 is located in the length of the pipe 5 to prevent escape of the water from the pipe 5 after'the same has been disconnected from the hydrant or other means for supplying water to the tank. Pipes, not shown, may be connected to the pipe 5 for discharging the water at the "desired pointor points. A fitting 7 is 10- I cated at the juncture of the pipe 5, with the tank and is provided with a seat 8 surrounding the outlet, said seat being adapted to be closed by means of a float valve 9. A short pipe 10 connects with the upper part of the tank, a fitting 11 similar to the fitting 7 being located at the juncture of the pipe 10 'ith the tank and said 12 against which the float valve 9 is adapted to close. A pipe 13 connects the upper end of the pipe 10 with the air compartment of the tank, said pipe 13 having a vertical branch 14: which extends through the air compartment and terminates a short distance below the bottom thereof. A trap 15 fitted to the lower end of the vertical pipe 1&, said trap having its lower end closed by means of a cap, which is removable to admit of drawing offany-water or other matter that may accumulate in the trap. T fittings 16 are located at the junotures' of the vertical branches with the horizontal branches of the pipes 5 and 13. A rod- 17 passes through the T fittings l6 and throughthe water co1npartment 4 and the vertical branches connecting the pipes 5 and 13 with the air compartment. The float valve 9 is mounted upon the rod 17 and is directed in its movements thereby. The rod 17 passes centrally through the a square seating'of the float valve. \Vhen ,the water is expelled from the compartment 4 and just prior to the breaking of the seal the valve 5) closes upon the seat 8, thereby preventing escape of the compressed air. When the water compartment is nearly tilled with water during the charging thereof the float valve 9 closes against the 12, thereby preventing any water passing from the compartment 4; through the pipes 10, 13and 14 into the air compartment valve seats 8 and 12 and insures fitting having a seat bottom of the air compartment receives the 3. It will thus be understood that the float valve is automatic in action so as to prevent flooding of the air compartment or escape of the compressed air when the water compartment 4 is nearlyempty.

A valve 18 is located in the length ofthe pipe 13 and a branch 19* having a valve 19' 15 also connecthd with the pipe 13. The

valve 18 and'branch 19 are connected with v the pipe 13 intermediate the ends of the looped pipe 20, which-latter constitutes in effect a bypass around the valve 18 and valved branch 19". A pressureregulator 21 is located in the length of the pipe 20 to regulate the pressure of the water in its passage from the air compartment 3 into the water compartment 4:, whereby the water discharged at the outlets may exert a practically uniform pressure throughout its discharge from the compartment 1. A valve' per portion of the compartment 4 may be determined, thereby enabling the pressure regulator-21 to be properly set.

When it is required to charge the 001m partment 3 with air under pressure the valves 19 and 22 are closed and the valve 18 opened and water is admitted into the compartment 4: through the pipe 5 from a hydrant or other fixture connected with the source of water supply. As'the' compartment 4 fills with water the air expelled therefrom passes into the compartment 3 through the pipes 10, 13 and 14:. When the compartment 4 is nearly or quite filled the.

float valve 9 closes against the seat 12, thereby cutting oil communication between the two compartments so as to prevent any water passing from the compartment 4: into the compartment 3. The valve 18 is 'now closed and the valve 19 opened, thereby ad-. mitting air into the compartment 4- from.

which the water is allowed to pass ofi.

-After the compartment-4 has been emptied the valve 19 is again closed and the valve 18 opened andthe compartment 4 permitted to again fill with water, the air expelled therefrom passing into the aircompartment 3. This operation is repeated until the pres sure in the gage 23 corresponds with the water pressure. After the compartment 3 has been charged" with air under pressure corresponding with the pressure of the water the compartment 4 is filled, after which the valves 18. and 19 are closed and the valve 22 opened, thereby permitting air t6 pass from the compartment 3 through the pipe 14, bypass 20 .and pipes 13 and 10 into the water cdmpm e t 4.. The pressure gages 23 and 24 will 1nd1cate. -the difiercnces between the air pressures in the compartments 3 ands, the pressure regu- I later 21 being set so that the airpressure.

ex'ertedfupon the water in the. compartment 4 1 will correspond to that required toforce the waterirom the compartment 1 through the discharge outlets. When the compartment 4 is nearly or quite empty the valve 9 will close upon the seat 8, thereby shutting OK the outflow and preventing the escape of the compressed air. The compartment 4: is now recharged, the air expelled therefrom passing into the compartment 3 in the manner hereinbefore stated. By having the pipe 14 extend into the lower portion of the compartment 3 or preferably into the trap 15 any water finding its way into the compartment 3 is forced therefrom by the pressure of the air through the pipe 14: and pipes 13 and 10 into the water compartment 1, thereby keeping the compartment 3 practically free from any water. Therod 17 in addition to forming a guide forfthe float valve 9 also serves to secure the vertical branches of the pipes to the tank.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advanta es of the construction and of the method 0 operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the-prmciple of operation of the invention, together with, the device which I now consider to be the embodiment 'thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of. the claims appended hereto.

Having' thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a street flushing apparatus, the com- I bination of a tank embodying. Water and air compartments, the water compartment having upper and lower openings, pipes having vertical branches connected with the tank in line with thesaid openings, a rod. passing through the tank and through the o enings thereof and the said vertical branc es and serving to connect the latter to the tank,

and a float mounted upon said rod and and controlled in its movements the change of level of the water in the tank.

2. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination of' air and water compartments, a supply and discharge pipe connected with the bottom of the water compartment, an air pipe having connection with the top of the water compartment-in vertical line with the point of connection ofsaid supply and discharge, pipe therewith, 'a'nd having a vertical branch entendingthroughthe air comadapted to automatically close the openings fitted to the bottom ofthe air compartment by the change of level of the water in the and receiving the lower end of the said ver- Water compartment, and a guide for directtical branch, a pipe looped into the air pipe, ing the float valve in its movements.

5 a pressure regulatox', pressure gages and a In testimony whereof I afiix my sigma--15 valve located in the length of the looped 2 ture in presence of two Witnesses. pipe, a valve and a valved branch connected JACOB I. BRORBY. with the air pipe intermediate the two ends l of the said looped pipe, a float valve for 10 closing the air pipe and the said supply and pertinent and the bottom thereof, a trap discharge pipe and adapted to be actuated l Witncsses:

LEVI H. MA'moX, G. B. JEHNINGS. 

